Ostrava’s “Silicon Valley”
The city of Ostrava, traditionally dominated by heavy industry, has now become an incubator of technological ideas that have the ambition to transcend the borders of the Czech Republic. A lot of people may be surprised by the fact that today in the city, the same number of people work in IT as in the metallurgical industry. More importantly, computer science is moving towards industrial applications, Industry 4.0, which is a great opportunity for the region to digitize its industry.
The days when Ostrava was synonymous with mines are long gone. The region, traditionally dominated by heavy industry, has now become an incubator of technological ideas that have the ambition to transcend the borders of the Czech Republic.
The Moravian-Silesian Region has always been the most industrialized area in the Czech Republic. Actually, it still is, and it means that there are a lot of people in it who understand the industry. And that's its huge added value. After a somewhat painful transformation in the 1990s, the region and its structure is changing with the advent of new technology companies. A lot of people may be surprised by the fact that today in Ostrava, the same number of people work in IT as in the metallurgical industry. More importantly, computer science is moving towards industrial applications, Industry 4.0, which is a great opportunity for the region to digitize its industry.
Last year, the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre was established in Ostrava. It builds on the former science and technology park as an extension of management and coaching of innovative technologies. The City of Ostrava and the Moravian-Silesian Region own 45% of the shares, the remaining 10% being owned by the universities. The Centre acts as a public service for start-up entrepreneurs and closely cooperates with the Innovation Support Centre of the VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava. It offers students environment for setting up a company and testing their ideas. The university is thus a source of ideas and a business incubator, the Innovation Support Centre translates these ideas into prototypes, and the Science and Technology Park / the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre helps these companies to get to international markets. The services of the Centre are especially attractive to companies focusing on robotics, mechatronics, biomedicine and, of course, the digitization of the industry.
Industry 4.0 = chance for the whole region
The Moravian-Silesian Region has always been an industrial region, and the transition to its digitization means increased added value in this sector. Linking traditional industry and new technologies brings extraordinary effect of cooperation. It is obvious that today, Ostrava has a different image and improved quality of life. It attracts investors as well as national and international sporting and cultural events.